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Project Noah Nature School
Anaxyrus fowleri
Fowler's toads are usually brown, gray, olive green and rust red in color and have black edged dark spots on its back, with a light mid-dorsal stripe. In each of the dark spots there are found to be three or more "warts". The ventral surface (belly) is usually whitish and almost completely unspotted. B. fowleri is noted for having a single dark spot on its otherwise spotless belly. Males are often found to be darker in color while females are found to be lighter. Its body measures between 5 to 9.5 cm in length.
Semi rural.
Found this little guy on a friend's front porch!
Spotted on Sep 23, 2011
Submitted on Sep 23, 2011
8 Comments
Added to NWF mission for its innovative defense. The toads parotoid glands produce a poisonous secretion that helps to defend the toad from predators. This substance, which is called bufotoxin, can cause death in small animals and allergic reactions in humans.
Thanks for the correction Lisa - I will update my info.
I have invested in a few field guides for insects & birds but I do need to buy some for reptiles & amphibians too so thank you for your recommendations!
This is a Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri). You all may look into buying Frogs and Toads of the Southeast by Whit Gibbons and Mike Dorcas, Salamanders of the southeast by Gibbons and Joe Mitchell or the newly released Amphibians of Tennessee by Matthew Niemiller, et. al.
Here are a couple of helpful links too:
http://www.tn.gov/twra/tamp/frogs.html
http://www.tn.gov/twra/tamp/salamanders....
http://apbrwww5.apsu.edu/amatlas/
That is a great idea.
We are about to build a pond (part of our ongoing project to create a wildlife habitat) so hopefully we will attract a few toads, frogs & other critters next year!
I used to see them all the time, I have not seen in in 7 or 8 years.
It's the first of this species I've seen since I've been here. He was a cute little guy & seemed quite relaxed in my hand.
I hardly ever see them any more!!